Published: Dec 24, 2013, 10:00 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 24, 2013, 10:01 PM (IST)
Wellington: Dec 24, 2013
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has asked for green pitches when India tour the country early next year, saying his team never get “any favours” as far as the wickets are concerned when they travel to India.
Hesson said he would be “disappointed” if the curators do not dish out green seaming tracks for the two Tests in Auckland and Wellington.
“We’ll back our seamers over anyone’s at the moment. We know these conditions as a batting group. Our batsmen bat on conditions that nip around in First-Class cricket so they’re used to it and it can expose your technique if you’re not,” the coach told ESPNcricinfo.
“I think everyone’s aware of the type of surface that we’d like. We’ve been in India before and they’ve changed the pitch the day before a game because it wasn’t quite as dry as they would like. We certainly don’t get any favours when we travel, so I’d be disappointed if we provide any at home,” he added.
India will play New Zealand in a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series in January, followed by two Tests at Eden Park and Basin Reserve between February 6 and 18.
On their last tour of New Zealand in 2009, India had won the three-Test series 1-0, registering win in Hamilton with off spinner Harbhajan Singh taking six wickets in second innings.
But before that when India visited New Zealand in 2002, they were presented with tracks that could hardly be differentiated from the lush outfields in Wellington and Hamilton, and the visitors failed to score more than 161 in any of the four innings.
The Eden Park track generally offers good carry but is not a green seamer, and Hesson said he was hopeful that the ground’s new curator, Blair Christiansen, could deliver such a track.
“They’re a pretty skilful group up there, they know exactly what needs to be done,” he said.
